What we have here is a failure to communicate

The decision in the 9th Circuit does not mean that America has conquered the demons of racism and sexism and seeks to embrace the spiritual ideal - all men are created equal. The Asian American community certainly did not feel included when they found themselves caricatured (via the Clintons and Al Gore) on the cover of the conservative magazine, The National Review. In defending the magazine's attempt to connect the Democratic Party with the Asian money, Editor John O'Sullivan said the cover was not offensive. He then became indignant when accused of being insensitive, refused to apologize for commissioning the drawing, and demanded an apology for the slanderous accusations.

What about our own Speaker of the House, Don Aldridge? When asked about his refusal to move forward with the hate-crime bill, he reportedly became irate and said it was nothing but "a few Jews" trying to push the bill through. Since his remarks were not taped (although the reporter to whom it was directed stands by his version), the speaker has denied he said anything remotely anti-Semitic. Did you hear about the 13-year-old boy beat unconscious by three white youths trying to rid their neighborhood of blacks in Chicago about a month ago? And right here in Tucson, there was an incident (not reported by the media) surrounding a young African American high school football player. While at practice, some other, white players urinated into his water cup. When he complained, he was ostracized and eventually kicked off of the team.

Many would argue that these are isolated incidents - extreme cases at best. I would counter by stating that these incidents reflect an underlying national intolerance for people of color. People of color (but not women, interestingly enough) have had enough coddling in their eyes, and it is high time someone put a stop to it. Immigrants drain our economic resources and English shall be the official language. Hence, in the spirit of idealistic color-blind homogeneity, any program that takes into account the race, sex or national origin shall be considered a pestilence, fit for immediate eradication.

We celebrate breakthroughs and triumphs by remembering Jackie Robinson and cheering Tiger Woods. Life seems OK, for the days of segregated baseball and exclusive country clubs are long past - or are they? The attacks on affirmative action or the ruling in the 9th Circuit are not so much victories for a color-blind idealism as they are a proxy for a much deeper sense of displacement. The world is getting smaller; natural and economic resources are becoming scarce and people are struggling harder than ever to make ends meet. When someone else is perceived to be getting a leg up, they must they must be taken down a notch. The fallacy would be, as goes affirmative action, so goes racism in America - they are not indisputably connected. However, one can say that as goes racism and sexism, so goes the continued importance of programs like affirmative action.

David H. Benton is a third year law student and sits on the Cabinet of the ASUA president and is a board member on the Arizona Students' Association. For David, as goes the month of May, so goes his tenure as a law school student. He graduates this year and his next column will be his last edition of 'Another Perspective.'

By David H. Benton (columnist)
Arizona Daily Wildcat
April 22, 1997